Medals Won at IIHF Women's World ChampionshipsFormer Buckeyes Tessa Bonhomme and Natalie Spooner won gold with Team Canada

Natalie Spooner

April 18, 2012

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Five Buckeyes represented their respective countries at this year's IIHF Women's World Championships in Burlington, Vt. The seven-day tournament concluded with a Team Canada/Team USA showdown for gold and Team Canada came away with a 5-4 OT win over the U.S.

Former Buckeye Tessa Bonhomme and Natalie Spooner, who completed her eligibility in February, each skated for Team Canada. The team finished the tournament with a 4-1 record with their only loss coming to Team USA on the first day of competition. Spooner finished with four goals and six total points in the tournament, including a hat trick in the team's 14-1 win over Russia, April 10. Bonhomme finished with an assist over five games played.

"It was so exciting to win gold and I was honored to have the chance to represent my country," Spooner said. "I learned so much more about the game being there with my team and competing against the best in the world."

Former Buckeye Lisa Chesson (2005-08) skated with Team USA and garnered silver at the end of the tournament. The squad concluded with a 4-1 record and Chesson totaled three assists.

Current student-athletes Minttu Tuominen and Annie Svedin represented Team Finland and Team Sweden, respectively. Tuominen and Team Finland concluded the tournament in fourth place, while Svedin and Team Sweden finished fifth. Svedin scored a goal in the team's 5-1 opening win over Slovakia.

"It always means a lot to put on the Swedish jersey and represent my country," Svedin said. "One of my goals this season was to make the team and to compete against the best in the world is very inspiring and helpful to keep developing both as a hockey player and a person."

"Representing Finland at the World Championships is so humbling because the whole world is following yours and your team's actions and success," Tuominen said. "As an athlete, it is a great opportunity to see the rewards of hard work. For about two weeks, we all get to do what we love the most and not think about anything else."

The IIHF Women's World Championship brought together eight teams from around the world - United States, Canada, Finland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Germany.